by Dr. Don Rose, Writer, Life Alert
What is the best way to detect stroke symptoms? Act “FAST.”
The “FAST” way to remember the warning signs of stroke is an acronym method based around the four letters in that word. It is shown below. The statements in quotes are what to ask the person who may be having a stroke:
F is for FACE: “Smile”. If one side of the face droops: may be stroke.
A is for ARM: “Raise both arms”. If one arm drifts downward: may be stroke.
S is for SPEECH: “Repeat the following sentence” (have the person repeat a simple sentence). If the speech is slurred or strange: may be stroke.
T is for TIME: If any of the above signs are present, don’t waste any time; immediately call 911 or take the person to the nearest stroke center or hospital.
(Source: “Stroke Awareness,” article from National Stroke Association, www.stroke.org)
For Life Alert members with stroke symptoms, there is another way to get the time-critical assistance that is needed: press the button on the Life Alert medical alert pendant. This will summon immediate help, 24/7. Using Life Alert is best if a phone cannot be reached or if driving the person to a hospital or stroke center is not possible. If a stroke victim is alone, Life Alert’s medical alert system may in fact be the only way to get help.
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- Life Alert Emergency Response
- Life Alert, founded in 1987, provides two-way communication for its members at the touch of a button when an emergency strikes, and sends help immediately. On average, Life Alert saves one of its members from a catastrophic outcome approximately every 23 minutes, saving 22,490 lives in 2009 alone, and has received over 14,000 testimonials from grateful customers in the past 2 years. Former U.S. Surgeon General C. Everett Koop, M.D. is the spokesman for Life Alert -- the only company he endorses. Once help is summoned by a Life Alert dispatcher, he/she stays on the line with the customer until assistance arrives -- and notifies family members, friends, and/or neighbors of the situation. In January 2008, “The Martha Stewart Show” featured Life Alert. The popular national television program recommended Life Alert during a segment on health-tech devices. Dr. Brent Ridge (who co-hosted the segment and is V.P. of Healthy Living at Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia) said that “we recommend this to all of the patients at the Martha Stewart Center for Living,” pointing out that Life Alert is "so inexpensive yet so vital for people."
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